Two billion aluminum atoms can’t be wrong

The idea of quantum computing is fascinating to me. I don’t fully understand how it works, but the idea that computer innards continue to become vanishingly small is just, well, neat. I ran across this article on quantum computing. Using two billion aluminum atoms to create an “artificial atom”, scientists at Yale University have created the first all electronic quantum bits (or qubits, pronounced, “Throat wabbler mangrove”). Wow.

Wait! There’s more. Apparently, in a nifty little bit of quantum mechanical hoo-ha, these guys are able – in a single calculation – to determine the correct answer from four possibilities. The article said that is like not knowing which of four phone numbers your friend has, and getting the right one on the first try every time. Wow.

But can it balance my checkbook?

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